April 4, 2007

UCSB Town Forum to Focus on Social Implications of the Internet and New Media

Social commentators have both praised and criticized the Internet and other new media, often citing concern that, over time, Internet and computer users would isolate themselves from their social groups and communities.

Examining various speculations about how the Internet and new media might impact social interaction, Jennifer Earl, associate professor of sociology and director of the Center for Information Technology and Society at the University of California, Santa Barbara, will speak at a UCSB Affiliates Town Forum on Tuesday, April 17. Her talk, titled "Social Implications of the Internet and New Media: Understanding How People and Communities Relate to New Technologies," will explore current research on the topic.

The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 21 E. Constance Ave. Admission is $8 for UCSB Affiliates or Chancellor's Council members and $10 for all others. Advance registration is recommended by calling the UCSB Office of Community Relations at (805) 893-4388.

A specialist in information technology, social movements, and the legal system, Earl has received major grant awards, including a National Science Foundation CAREER Award for young scholars. She has published widely in leading academic journals as well as in more public venues, such as The Washington Post. Her current research centers on Internet activism and a study of arrests made at the 2004 Republican National Convention.

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